Tejeros Convention

The assembly at Tejeros was finally convened on March 25, 1897. The invitations to the meeting were signed by
Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras of the Magdiwang Council, and he presided over the assembly. Seated with Lumbreras at
the long presidential table were the Supremo Andres Bonifacio, Messrs. Mariano M. Alvarez, Pascual Alvarez,
Ariston Villanueva, Mariano C. Trias, Diego Mojica, Emiliano R. de Dios, Santiago V. Alvarez, Artemio Recarte,
Santos Nocon, Luciano San Miguel, Pablo Mojica, Serevino de las Alas, and Santiago Rillo, all of them of the
Magdiwang. Among the Magdalo seated at the head table were Messrs. Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona, and
Cayetano Topacio.
It must be mentioned that, before the assembly must Convened, Secretary of War Ariston Villanueva of the
Magdiwang Council received the confidential information that Mr: Daniel Tirona of the Magdalo faction was set to
undermine the proceedings of the assembly and that he had already succeeded in enjoining many among Magdiwang
leaders to ally with him. Secretary Villanueva kept silent, but nevertheless alerted Captain General Apoy, who had
troops in readiness for any sudden eventuality.
The leaders were seated at the presidential table, as previously, and all the others were standing in groups on both
sides of those seated. After Chairman Jacinto Lumbreras had declared the assembly opens, he announced the main topic
of discussion, which was how to bolster the defences in the areas Still under the Magdiwang control. Presently, Mr.
Severino de las Alas rose to speak, and when he was recognized he Said, "Before we discuss minor details, let us first
tackle the major issue such as what kind of government we should have and how we should go about establishing it.
Once we make a decision about these questions, the problem of organization and strengthening of defense will be
resolved.
"As initiator of the Revolution", Chairman Lumbreras replied, "The Katipunan now holds authority over the
islands It has a government of law and a definite program. It is obeyed and respected by all because it stands for
freedom, brotherly love, and a well-organized and well-run government. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the
best measures to take to strengthen the Magdiwang government vis-û-vis the enemy. We should avoid surrendering the
headquarters of the Katipunan army should the Magdalo eventually lose out."
The chair next recognized the Supremo. He concurred to what Chairman Lumbreras had just said and explained
that the "K" in the middle of the sun in Katipunan flag used in the revolution stood for the Kalayaan (freedom).
Mr: Severino de las Alas spoke again. He countered that the letter "K and the sun on the flag did not indicate
whether the revolutionary government was democratic or not.
The Supremo replied that from the rank and file to the highest levels, the Katipunan was united in its respect for
universal brotherhood and equality of man. It was risking bloodshed and the life itself in its struggle against the king,
in order to establish a sovereign and free government. In short, it stood for the people’s sovereignty, not a government
led by only one or two.
Mr: Antonio Montenegro spoke in defense of Mr. Severino de las Alas’s stand. He argued that if they would not
agree on the kind of revolutionary government they were to have and that if they were let the status quo prevail, the they
who were in the Revolution would be no better than a pack of bandits or of wild, mindless animals.
General Apoy was hurt by these words of M Montenegro. He quickly stood up and looked angrily at the previous
speaker.
"We the Katipunan, "he began, are under the jurisdiction of our respected Highest Council of the Sons of the
People, This Council is the defender of, and has authority over the Magdiwang and the Magdalo government of
Cavite. We are true revolutionaries fighting for the freedom of the native land. We are not bandits who rob others of
their property and wealth. Nor should we be likened to beasts for we know how to protect and defend others, especially
the political refugees who seek asylum with us. We are rational and we do not expose those who talk big but do not
accomplish anything. if you want to establish a different kind of government that is to your liking, you must do as we
have done: Go back to your localities and snatch them from Spanish control! Then you can do what pleases you; but
don 't you dare seek refuge among cowards who might call you bandits and beasts. And for everybody 's satisfaction, I
am now ordering your arrest!”
Captain General Apoy stopped speaking and looked intently at the persons he was alluding to and ordered a
detachment under Maj. Damaso Fojas to keep him under guard. After a short while, Dr. Jose Rizal's sister, Trining and
his widow, Josephine, pleaded with General Apoy not to arrest M: Montenegro. but to let him stay at the estate house
where themselves were staying. They volunteer to be held personally responsible for Mr Montenegro while their custody.
Captain General Apoy easily acceded to the request.
The strong and excited denunciation by Captain General Apoy of Mr. Montenegro alerted the Magdiwang troops.
The leaders eyed everyone suspiciously and were only waiting a signal from General Apoy for them to begin shooting.
Disorder ensued and disrupted the assembly. When order was restored, some wanted the convention adjourned, but the
Supremo Bonifacio prevail upon the others to continue. However, the presiding officer M: Lumbreras, refused to resume
his role of chairman. He wanted to yield the chair to Supremo whom he thought to be the rightful chairman.
"The Katipunan as you know, Mr Lumbreras explained "was responsible from the beginning for the spread of
revolutionary movement throughout the Philippines. But because of the disaffection of some, this assembly was called
to establish a new overall revolutionary council. If we are to pursue this ambitious and important undertaking, only
the Supremo has the right to preside at this assembly, for he is the Father of the Katipunan and the Revolution."
Mr Lumbreras's speech was well received and his proposal was unanimously accepted. The Supremo Bonifacio
assumed the chairmanship accordingly and said, "Your aim is to establish a new overall government of the Katipunan of
the Sons of the People. This would repudiate the decisions made at the meeting held at the friar estate house in Imus.
In my capacity as "President Supremo" of the Most Venerable Katipunan of the Sons of the People, I agree and
sympathize with your aspirations. But I wish to remind you that we should respect all decisions properly discussed and
approved in our meetings. We should respect and abide by the wishes of the majority"
Because of the repeated clamor for the approval of the establishment of a government of the Philippine Republic,
the chair proceeded to repair for an election to the following positions; President, Vice President, Minister of Finance,
Minister of Welfare and Minister of Justice and Captain General.
The Supremo spoke again before the election began. He said that the candidate who would get the most number
of votes for each position should be the winner, no matter what his station in life or his educational attainment. We should
matter was that the candidate had never been a traitor to the cause of the Motherland. Everyone agreed and there were
shouts of approval such as. "That is how it should be- equality for everyone! Nobody should be higher nor lower that
the other: May love of country prevail!" The Supremo Bonifacio appointed Gen. Artemio Ricarte as secretary. Then,
with the help of Mr: Daniel Tirona, he distributed pieces of paper to serve as ballots. When the ballots had been collected
and the votes were ready to be canvassed, Mr Diego Mojica, the Magdiwang secretary of the treasury, warned the
Supremo that many ballots distributed were already filled out and that the voters had not done this themselves. The
Supremo ignored this remark. He proceeded with business at hand as if nothing unusual had happened.
When the votes for president were counted, Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo won over Mr Andres Bonifacio, the
Supremo. The winner was acclaimed by applause and shouts of "Mabuhay!" (Long live!)
Mr: Severino de las Alas spoke again to say that since the Supremo Bonifacio had received the second highest
number of votes for the presidency, he should be proclaimed vice-president of the government of the Philippine Republic.
When nobody signified approval or disapproval of the proposal. the presiding officer, the Supremo Bonifacio, ruled that
the election be continued. For Vice President, Mr: Mariano Trias won over Mr. Mariano Alvarez and the Supremo
Bonifacio. General Vibora was elected captain over General Apoy. General Vibora demurred, saying that he had
neither the ability nor the right to assume the new position. But General Apoy cut short his objections by saying that he
was personally vouched for General Vibora's competence and right to occupy the position to which he was elected.
General Apoy s endorsement was greeted with shouts and of "Long live the newly elected captain general!"
Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo wanted the elections to be finished before it got too dark. To facilitate the counting of
votes, he suggested that for all other positions to be voted upon, voters should stand on one side of the hall if in favor and
on the other side if against. The suggestion was adopted for the rest of the election. For the position of secretary of war,
Mr. Emiliano R. de Dios was elected overwhelming over Messrs. Santiago V Alvarez, Ariston Villanueva, and Daniel
Tirono. After the voters had given the proper honors to the new secretary of war, they proceeded to elect the secretary of
the interior Mr Andres Bonifacio, the Supremo, won Over Mr Mariano Alvarez. The crowd broke into shouts of
"Mabuhay!" Mr Daniel Tirona requested for the restoration of the order and then spoke aloud:
“My brethren, the office of the secretary of the interior should is of so great a scope and of such sensitivity that
we should here not entrust it to one who is not a lawyer: One among us here is a lawyer: He is Mr Jose del Rosario.
Let us reconsider the choice for the last position, for he has no credentials to show attesting to any educational
attainment.
 Then in as loud a voice as he could muster, Tirona shouted, "Let us elect Mr Jose del Rosario, the lawyer!"
Greatly embarrassed, the Supremo Bonifacio quickly stood up and said, "We agreed to abide by the majority
vote and accept its choice no matter what the station in life the person elected. And because of this, I demand from
you, Mr. Daniel Tirona, an apology. You must restore to the voters and the one they elected the honor you have only
now besmirched."
Then he pulled out his revolver and took aim.
Instead of replying, M: Tirona ignored the Supremo's remarks and, perhaps because of fear, he slid away and got
lost in the crowd. Disorder ensued as the convention secretary tried to disarm the Supremo, who was intent on
shooting Mr Tirona. The people began to disperse and the Supremo adjourned the meeting with these words:
In my capacity as chairman of this convention and as President-Supremo of the Most Venerable
Katipunan of the Sons of the People which association is known and acknowledged by all, I hereby declare and
void al matters approved in this meeting.
Then he left quickly and was followed by his aides and Some other present.
Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo, the Magdalo president, did not leave San Francisco de Malabon that night, in order
to0 convince that Magdiwang leaders to reconvene the disrupted meeting the following day. They agreed to his proposal.
That same night, rumor had it that Messrs. Mariano Trias, Daniel Tirona, Emiliano R. de Dios, Santiago Rillo and others
were in the parish house of the Catholic church at Tanza (Santa Cruz de Malabon), and that they were conferring with the
priest, Fr Cenon Villafranca. Many attested to seeing them, but no one knew what they talked about.
On the request of Magdalo Pres. Baldomero Aguinaldo, a meeting was called at the same friar estate house in
Tejeros. Called on the day after the tumultuous convention, its purpose was to continue and revalidate the proceeding of
the election meeting, to revive their former alliances, and to Restore cordiality and fraternal love in their relations. Aside
from the Supremo Andres Bonifacio, among the Magdiwang leaders who attended were Messrs. Mariano Alvarez,
Diego Mojica, Ariston Villanueva, Pascual Alvarez, Jacinto Lumbreras, Santiago Alvarez, Artemio Ricarte,
Nicolas Portilla, Santos Nocon, and Fr Manuel Trias, the parish priest of San Francisco de Malabon. They waited
until five of that afternoon, but none of the Magdalo members came, not even their president who had initiated what
would have been a reconciliation meeting.
That same night, it was rumoured that the Magdalo leaders were currently holding their own meeting in the
parish house in Tanza. Though it had reason to be apprehensive because the Magdalo were in territory under its
jurisdiction, the Magdiwang leadership looked the other way because the Magdalo were hard-pressed for meeting places
since its territories had all been taken by the Spanish enemy.
The next morning, 27 March 1897, eyewitnesses who had spied on the proceeding revealed that, indeed, a
meeting had taken place at the 1anza parish house and that the Supremos decision’s regarding the election at the friar
estate house were not respected. These revelations surfaced despite denials from many sectors.
At the gathering in the Tanza parish house, those elected at the Tejeros convention knelt before a crucifix and in
the name of the Holy Father, the highest pontiff of the Roman Catholic church, invoked the martyred saints and solemnly
took their office. Fr Cenon Villafranca officiated. With Messrs. Severino de las Alas and Daniel Tirona as the witnesses,
the following took their oaths of office: Mssrs. Emilio Aguinaldo, Mariano C. Trias and Artemio Ricarte. Conspicuously
absent was the Supremo Andres Bonifacio who was not invited although he was one of the elected the office. It will be
recalled that as the chairman of Tejeros Convention, he declared and void all matters approved by the assembly because
of a grave violation of a principle agreed upon before the election.
It should be noted here that, unknown to the Magdiwang Council, the Magdalo posted troops to guard the Tanza
parish house for their oath-taking ceremonies. The troops were under strict orders not to admit any of the unwanted
Magdiwang partisans. 1f the news about the secret ceremony had leaked out earlier, and the underdogs in the power
struggle had attempted to break into it, they would have been annihilated then and there.
The other one is the reading on the said event by Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (2002). The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of
Bonifacio and the Katipunan. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press as the secondary source.
Seeds of Discontent
 In the first flush of rebel victory climaxing the simultaneous attacks upon the Spanish garrisons and convents,
followed by the dismal failure of Governor General Blanco to smash the insurgent power, the Katipunan of Cavite,
divided into two factions, the Magdiwang and the Magdalo, immediately proceeded to reorganize the province along
partisan lines. Each faction exercised sovereign power over a number of towns, including those in Batangas, was under
the Magdalo government, while Nasugbu, Tuwi and Look, in the same province, belonged to the Magdiwang. As
independent entities, the leaders of the wo provincial councils never got together to elect one supreme council that
would hold sway over the entire province. The Magdiwang proceeding with its election independently of the Magdalo,
chose the following men to administer its government: Mariano Alvarez, President; Pascual Alvarez, Executive
Secretary; Emiliano Reigo de Dios, Minister of the Interior (Pagpapaunlad); Mariano Trias, Minister of Grace and
Justice, Ariston Villanueva, Minister of War; Santiago Alvarez, Commander-in-Chief; Diego Moxica, Minister of
Finance, Artemio Ricarte and Mariano Reigo de Dios, Military Commanders with the rank of Brigadier-General.
On the other hand, the Magdalo elected the following to take the reins of its government: Baldomero Aguinaldo,
President; Candido Tirona, Minister of War; Cayetano Topacio, Minister of Finance, Emilio Aguinaldo,
Commander in Chief Edilberto Evangelista, Lieutenant General, Vito Belarmino and Crispulo Aguinaldo, Military
commanders with the rank of Brigadier-General. Since the organization of the Magdiwang, its capital had been
Noveleta, but in the early part of November, when General Blanco began his offensive, the capital was moved to San
Francisco de Malabon and later to Naik. The Magdalo, for its part, had its capital in Kawit and when it fell, Imus, San
Francisco de Malabon, Naik and Maragondon successively became its seat.
An attempt was made by both factions to make their respective armies wear the same uniform. It was agreed to
adopt the following insignia: for the President 's cap, a sun with golden rays on a white background, a K (Katipunan)
and the letters A.N.N.B (Anak ng Bayan) in the middle. The same insignia was used for the sleeves. The Minister had
the same insignia as the President s except that the letters A.N.B. were not included. The bands on the sleeves of the
Minister, including the K, were of different colors according to the ministry to which is belonged. The Minister of
War had the red K on a white background, a sun on the cap, a sun on the left breast but none on the sleeves. The
plan however did not go beyond the paper stage, as the rebels did not have the means to buy the uniform.
When Cavite led by its rival factions, successfully rose in revolt, the leaders fell into disputes arising from the
desire of one group to lord it over the other Since both groups were responsible for the rebel victories, neither
would bow to the other nor allow itself to be placed under its rival s command There was no serious open breach but
the silent conflict, more ominous than it appeared on the surface, threatened to wreck the unity that in the beginning had
done much to prevent the foe from overrunning the whole province and annihilating the revolution at its very inception. It
was this conflict, more than anything else that led to the rebel 's defeat at the hands of Polavieja. The Magdiwang
faction, believing as the initiator of the revolution in the Cavite it had the priority right to rule over the insurgents
of the province looked with disdain at the way the Magdalo men refused to cooperate with it. The Magdalo
followers believing that most of the victories in the whole territory were won by their leaders, wanted to appear the
stronger and therefore, the better fitted rule
The situation, though not so serious on the surface, led the Magdiwang men to invite Andres Bonifacio to visit
Cavite and see for himself all that had been accomplished by the revolutionists in that area and to intervene in the
conflict. A delegate was sent to look for the Supremo in the mountains of Montalban and Mariquina to apprise him of
the urgent necessity of mediating of the widening rift between the two popular councils. Bonifacio, informed of the
situation, refused to heed the request of the Magdiwang leaders on the ground that in order to succeed in the revolution
against Spain the leaders must not be concentrated in a single place. This preliminary contact with the Supremo
resulted in the periodic exchanges of communications between him and the Magdiwang chieftains. On the third
invitation, written by Artemio Ricarte upon the instruction of Mariano Alvarez, Bonifacio acceded to the request.
With his wife and two brothers, Ciriaco and Procopio, Bonifacio left for Cavite about the Middle of December 1896.
Emilio Aguinaldo, Candido Tirona and Edilberto Evangelista were on hand to meet the Supremo and his entourage at
Zapote. It was at this preliminary meeting that a misunderstanding arose between the Magdalo leaders and Bonifacio, for
the former, rightly or wrongly, saw from Bonifacio 's gestures and behavior that he regarded himself superior and "acted
as if he were a king. Even so, the hard feelings that Bonifacio's unconscious unintentional actions engendered remained
submerged and flared up only n the Imus assembly.
Bonifacio was brought by the rebel leaders to the house of Juan Castañeda in Imus, where he was visited by
Baldomero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona, Vicente Fernandez and others. The Supremo, upon seeing Fernandez, ordered
his arrest. For Bonifacio, remembering that Fernandez was the same man who had promised, before that battle of San
Juan, to attack the Spaniards in Laguna and Morong Simultaneously with Bonifacio š offensive in San Juan del Mont e but
whose promise was never carried out, now saw his chance to punish the offender Bonifacio blamed him for the defeat in
San Juan and was determined that he should not go unpunished. As Supreme Head of the Katipunan, Bonifacio took it
for granted that he would be obeyed by all. To his surprise and dismay, the Magdalo chieftains, to whom that Fernandez
had run for shelter, refused to give up their man. The Supremo by then had realized that he had very little, if any,
influence in the Magdalo area. With doubt crisscrossing his mind and misgiving assailing his heart, Bonifacio, on
January 2 1897, wrote from San Francisco de Malabon to his uncle-in-law, Mariano Alvarez:
President Mainam: Don’t fall to come this very moment for I want to talk to you privately about what happened to
me in Magdalo and so that you might explain their organization to me.
Meanwhile, Esteban San Juan invited Bonifacio to attend the demonstration of the Magdiwang rebels in
Noveleta. Accompanied by San Juan himself, Baldomero Aguinaldo and Candido Tirona, Bonifacio arrived at
Noveleta amidst the enthusiastic acclamation of the people. At three in the afternoon, the parade took place in which
Bonifacio, riding in carriage and flanked on both sides by the Magdiwang soldiers in red uniform was the object of the
demonstration. As the parade would its way toward San Francisco de Malabon, the people shouted, "Long lived the ruler
of the Philippines! to which Bonifacio answered Long Live Philippine Liberty! Upon arriving at Malabon, he was
quartered in the house of Santos Nocon and, later, in the house of Mrs. Estefania Potente, where he stayed until the
Spaniards captured the town in April 1897.
The misunderstanding that existed between the followers of the Magdiwang and the Magdalo, so destructive of
the Katipunan plans, deepened into mutual suspicion and jealousies that resulted in military reverses in several sectors.
Polavieja's counter-offensives led to the fall of several towns hitherto held by the rebels, and the attitude of non-
cooperation exhibited by one faction when the other was harassed by the enemy led, as it must, to disaster in the
field. The situation, both camps believed, could only be remedied by coming together and threshing out differences of
opinion and solving, ultimately, the question of leadership in the province. For this purpose, the leaders of the Magdiwang
and the Magdalo decided to call a convention or assembly at Imus.
In the assembly hall, the factions met and exchanged the usual greetings. Bonifacio entered proceeded to the head
of the table and unceremoniously occupied the chair. He beckoned to the Magdiwang Ministers to sit at his right side.
The obvious partiality to the Magdiwang was presented by the Magdalo, for as Supreme head of the Katipunan who was
called upon to mediate between the two factions, Bonifacio was expected to show impartiality. But his actions in case
were motivated by his regard for his wife’s uncle, Mariano Alvarez, the President of the Magdiwang-a fact that
aggravated the situation. Even so, the Magdalo men did not show their resentment but kept silent in order to prevent
further misunderstanding between the followers of both camps. Seeing that Bonifacio had called his ministers,
Baldomero Aguinaldo, President of the Magdalo, without being invited, his position as a purely military one, was
content to be a mere observer: He had, however, a plan of his own. Since it was the intention of his faction to propose the
establishment of a revolutionary government, he had decided forehand that in the coming election for the presidency he
would nominate and support Edilberto Evangelista, since among them all "Evangelista was the best educated'".
Bonifacio knew of Aguinaldo s active electioneering in favor of Evangelista and was deeply hurt, for as founder and
Supreme Head of Katipunan he left that the presidency should be given to him as a reward.
The assembly opened with Bonifacio as Chairman. It was evident when Baldomero Aguinaldo made the
proposal to establish a revolutionary government that the two factions would never come to an understanding. The
Magdalo men contented that the continuance of the Katipunan Government was no longer necessary for since the
start of the revolution the Society had ceased to remain as a secret society and must therefore be supplanted by one
that would better fit the situation. The Magdalo people further contented that being small, Cavite must not be divided
between two factions. On the other hand, the Magdiwang followers argued that the Katipunan already had a
constitution and by-laws duly approved and enforced in the islands and that, by the virtue of this, provincial and
municipal government in and around Manila had already been established. There was therefore no necessity of
establishing a new government. Even so the Magdiwang Minister of War, Ariston Villanueva stood up and said that
if a new government was to be established, Andres Bonifacio who had organized and planned the entire revolutionary
movement, must of right occupy the presidency without any election. Further, he appointed out that as Chairman and
Supremo, Bonifacio should be given blanket authority to appoint the Ministers. The Magdalo group strenuously
objected and insisted on an election. The discussion became heated and did not accomplish any tangible result. The
assembly was adjourned and each faction left without any definite understanding.
Suspicious and jealousies continued to plague the ranks of the rebels, and even among the members of the same
faction petty quarrels continued to come up. 1he Magdalo followers suspected the Magdiwang of courting the favor of
the Spaniards, while the same suspicion was aroused in the Magdiwang as regards the Magdalo. In a situation where the
Magdalo needed the help of the Magdiwang, the latter to which Bonifacio belonged, refused to come to the aid of the
former: Moreover, the Magdiwang followers were themselves occupied, now and then; the petty jealousies and quarrels
that tended to demoralize the soldiers. Thus, when the town fiesta of San Francisco de Malabon was held in January
1897, the rebels, then enjoying the afternoon games, were disturbed by a series of rifle shots that sent them scampering
away to places of safety. Thinking that the enemy was approaching, Ariston Villanueva and Santiago Alvarez gathered
their men and prepared to meet an attack. They later found out that the rifle shots came from the men of Captain
Mariano San Gabriel, also a Magdiwang man, who, trigger-happy, had fired several shots in the air. Alvarez 's men tried
to disarm the offending soldiers but instead were themselves disarmed. Alvarez was curious and demanded that San
Gabriel disarm his men. The latter refused and left for Noveleta. It was only through Ricarte s intervention that the two
men, Alvarez and San Gabriel, were brought together again as comrades.
The situation had not eased up a bit when the leaders of the Magdiwang planned to hold another convention,
this time in the estate-house of Tejeros, a Magdiwang territory situated about two kilometres from San Francisco
de Malabon and about a half kilometre from the town proper o Salinas. The government under the Magdalo,
comprising the towns of Kawit, Bakood and Imus, was at the time seriously threatened by the Spanish army which
occupied the estate house of Salitran and which had dug in as the preparatory step to the battle that was about to
commence. General Emilio Aguinaldo, leading the Magdalo Soldiers, faced the Spaniards in Salitran, a barrio between
the towns of lmus and Dasmariñas. It was March 22, 1897, Aguinaldo 's birthday, when simultaneously the battle raged
and the assembly convened the Tejeros.
The delegates, mostly belonging to the Magdiwang lazily trooped the sultry afternoon to the spacious estate-
house of Tejeros. Some of the men were barefoot; others wore buri hats or were dressed in barong Tagalog. They
came from all directions; from Kawit, Noveleta and Imus to the North; from Tanza to the West; from san
Francisco de Malabon to the northeast. The estate-house surrounded by stone walis and built in the middle of the
six-hectare farm owned by the friars and now in rebel hands had a 60-meter frontage. The entrance was through an
arched gate connected to the rear arched gate by a long and wide corridor to the right, a few meters from the front gate,
were the stairs. Directly opposite the stairs were a storage room and next to it, to the rear was the chapel. Directly opposite
this and next to the stairs was another storage room. Up the stairs was a big hall, with the doors of thirty-four rooms
opening to it. In the rear of a room to the regain were the dining room and the azotea that commanded a beautiful view of
the fields around and the murky log Kawayan on whose banks thick clumps of bambo0 protected the house from the glare
of the sun. The estate-house stood alone in that wide expanse of Riceland. Directly opposite the house and across the road
was more riceland (tubuhan). The long road that commenced from the town of Salinas led directly to San Francisco de
Malabon, and half a kilometer from the estate-house it branched off the right, where a bridge connected the latter town to
the town of Tanza or Santa Cruz de Malabon.
It was this place, the former summer resort of the friars, that witnessed the first important election held under
the auspices of the Katipunan government. An invitation was sent by the Magdiwang chieftains to the Magdalo
followers to attend the meeting, but because of the battle then raging around the locality not all but all the Magdalo
leaders were able to attend. The Magdiwang was represented by Andres Bonifacio, Mariano Alvarez, Pascual Alvarez,
Santiago Alvarez, Luciano San Miguel, Mariano Trias Severino de las Alas, Santos Nocon and others, while the
Magdalo was represented by Baldonero Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona Cayetano Topacio, Antonio Montegro and
others. The estate house buzzed with life as more rebels, some of them uninvited came to the convention. It was past two
in the afternoon when the meeting was formally opened.
Jacinto Lumbreras, acting the president of the Magdiwang, took the chair and opened the convention with
introductory remarks summing up the purpose of the meeting. To his right sat Teodoro Gonzales, also a Magdiwang who
acted as a secretary. Severino de las Alas, a Magdiwang immediately took the floor and explained that before discussing
ways and means of defending such a Small area as Cavite, the convention assembled should first of all agree upon the
kind of government that should be set up to administer the whole country under the prevailing circumstances. "From this
government, " he said, "anything that is necessary in the defense of the country can emanate." The presiding officer,
however, reminded the speaker that a government had already been established upon the founding of the Katipunan,
its Supreme Council, its Provincial Councils, and its Popular Councils, and that the meeting was called to adopt
defensive measures. At this juncture, Bonifacio spoke and supplemented Lumbreras explanation, calling the attention of
those assembled to the Katipunan flag with a Kin the middle, which embodied the ideal of revolutionists, namely liberty.
De las Alas, not contented with the Supremo 's explanation, countered that the K in the flag of the Katipunan did not in
any way identify the kind of government that they had, whether such government was monarchial or republican.
Bonifacio remarked that all the Katipuneros, from the Supreme Head to the lowest member recognized the principle of
Unity, Fraternity and Equality re It can be seen," he said, that the Government and the Association of the Sons of the
people is republican in form.
 The discussion was going nowhere and tempers ran high as the men insisted on their own points of view. So far
the discussion was between the men of the same faction. In an unfortunate moment, a Magdalo man, Antonio
Montenegro, stood up and shouting at the top of his voice, took issue with Bonifacio. "If we do not act upon the
suggestions of Mr de las Alas," he said, "we, the rebels, will be likened unto a mere pack of highway robbers, or
worse, like animals without reason." The words, uttered in a good faith and in the belief that something, must be done
to have a new government organized, touched off a sensitive spot in the hearts of the Magdiwang listeners. Santiago
Alvarez, a Magdiwang, pricked to anger, took the floor and, throwing a malicious side-glance at Montenegro,
reported: "We, the rebels of Cavite, especially those under the Magdiwang recognize the Government organized by
the Association of the Sons of the People. And if you want to set up another form of Government, you can go back
to your own province and wrest the authority from the Spaniards, as we have already done. As such, you can do
whatever you want to and nobody would interfere with you. "We of Cavite", he added with a meaning full of
bitterness, "we of Cavite do not need and will never need any adviser of your own standing only."
Pandemonium reigned as the voice of Santiago Alvarez boomed inside the spacious sala. Hid bodyguards, planted
near the stairs, moved ominously- all set to fire at those inside the hall. Lumbreras, sensing the explosive situation,
tactfully called a recess to give sufficient time for the angry men to cool off. At the end of an hour, the meeting was
resumed. Jacinto Lumbreras, seeing that it would be useless for him to continue to preside in such an atmosphere, refused
to take the chair, saying: "As the question under discussion is completely outside of what is mentioned in the agenda
of the meeting and is concerned instead with the establishment of an over- all government of the revolution, I
should not continue to preside over this session. Then he took his seat among the members, and Andres Bonifacio,
who was acclaimed by to succeed him, took the chair us the presiding officer by the virtue of his being the
President of the Supreme Council the Katipunan. He then called the meeting to order and said. As you desire to set
up a supreme government to direct the revolution, abolishing what was organized by the Katipunan and
repudiating the resolution approved kin the Assembly of Imus, as President of the Supreme Council of the
Katipunan I accede to your just petition, but first of all I want to ask you to recognize a principle as a basis of
agreement in this or in other meetings, which is: that we respect and obey the will of the majority." Those present
saw the justice and wisdom of his proposition and assented unanimously.
The Republic of the Philippines was then and there proclaimed amidst enthusiastic hurrahs. With a new form of
government determined to take the place of the Katipunan, the election of officers was then prepared. Nine officers were
to be elected by popular vote, namely: President, Vice President, Captain General, Director of War, Director of
Interior Director of Finance, Director of State, Director of Fomento and Director of Justice . Before proceeding with
the election, Bonifacio, probably assailed by doubts and aware of his limitations, called the attention of all the electors
representing the different regions of the Philippines to the principle that whoever would be elected should be recognized
and respected regardless of his social condition and education. 1he proposal, made in the form of mere statement and
reminder was approved for in that convention very few, if any, were men of high intellectual attainments. The ballots
were prepared and distributed. The balloting was made successively that is the officer of the President was first voted
upon, after which the other offices were filled in Singly. After an hour, the ballots were cast for president and Emilio
Aguinaldo won in absentia over Andres Bonifacio and Mariano Trias. The president-elect was proclaimed with loud
shouts and applause.
Before the ballots were cast for the Vice-Presidency Severino de las Alas stood up and suggested that in as
much as Bonifacio had received the second largest number of votes he should automatically be allowed to occupy
the Vice-Presidency. The men assembled appeared lukewarm to the suggestion, there being no one who approved or
disapproved it. Consequently, Bonifacio decided to continue with the election of the Vice President. Mariano Trias was
elected in the position over Andres Bonifacio, Severino de las Alas and Mariano Alvarez. The election of the
Captain General came next and Ricarte, the acting Secretary of the convention, came out over Santiago Alvarez.
With a modesty that sprang from the realization of the responsibility attached to the position, Ricarte stood up and
declared.: "None better than I know my own limitations and fitness: the position with which this assembly honors me is
beyond my scant ability and strength, to me it is a very honourable position but its horizon is too wide for me: so I request
the assembly not to resent my refusal to accept it." Ricarte 's modesty, genuine or assumed, proved affective. Cries of
disapproval followed his request to be relieved, and the disturbance created by the enthusiastic followers of the General
forced Bonifacio to call the meeting to order: then: it is getting dark, he said, "so we have to proceed to the election to the
other positions." Somebody suggested that in order to expedite the election to the remaining positions, the electors should
step on the one side when their candidates were called, a proposal that was immediately approved. In this manner, the
following were elected: Director of War. Emiliano Reigo de Dios, who won over Ariston Villanueva, Daniel Tirona
and Santiago Alvarez, Director of Interior, Andres Bonifacio, who won over Mariano Alvarez and Pascual
Alvarez.
 The election of Bonifacio gave rise to an incident that nearly ended in a bloody affair. Amidst the acclamations
that followed the announcement of his election, Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo man, stood up and said: "The position of the
Director of the Interior is an exalted one and it is not meet that a person without a lawyer s diploma should occupy
I We have in our province a lawyer, Jose del Rosario; therefore, we should protest against the elected and
acclaimed." And shouting at the top of his voice, he added: "Let us vote for Jose del Rosario!" No one, however, took
the suggestion which was shouted four times. Nevertheless, Bonifacio felt insulted and he turned crimson with anger:
Controlling himself, he demanded that Daniel Tirona retract what he had said, "Did we not agree," he added, that we
have to abide by the decision of the majority whatever may be the social standing of the elected?" He insisted that Tirona
gave satisfaction to the assembly for his defamatory words. But Tirona ignored Bonifacio and tried to lose himself in the
crowd. In the flush of his anger, Bonifacio whipped out his pistol to fire at Tirona but Ricarte grabbed his hand and
thus prevented what might have been a tragic affair. The people then began to leave the hall, and Bonifacio frustrated
and deeply wounded in feeling, cried aloud, "I, as chairman of this assembly and as President of the Supreme
Council of the Katipunan, as all of you do not deny, declare this assembly dissolved, and I annual all that has been
approved and resolved." With his parting statement, he left the hall, followed by his men.
The seed of discontent, resulting from his failure to get the presidency, and which was watered by the unfortunate
attitude of Daniel Tirona, who, by another sad coincidence, belonged to the opposite faction, found fertile ground in
Bonifacio s heart and mind. Aside from the fact as the founder of Katipunan and the initiator of the revolution he believed
he should have been given the presidency, he contented the irregularities were committed by the Magdalo men and that he
would have been elected had it bit been for the premeditated frauds of the rival faction. Writing to his uncle-in-law,
Mariano Alvarez, he said:
MY DEAR GENERAL MAINAM: Our recently ended election at Mapagtiis (San Francisco de Malabon) has
left a large poisonous thorn in my heart. 1 reiterate to you my nullification of all that had been agreed upon there. My,
General, I never expect that my complacency and faithfulness would be rewarded with avarice and insult upon my person
by your fellow townsmen who are false patriots. I shall make them realize when 1 set foot on Moring soil that it was not I
whom they insulted but the whole country.
Send me food at once and faithful soldiers of the Mother Country here at Limbon' as a fulfilment of your
promised help when I left in disquietude. Your supremo, and Bonifacio, Maypagasa.
Giving Vent to his resentment over the procedure and results of the elections, Bonifacio, in a letter to his friend,
Emilio Jacinto, then in Laguna explained his side and gave the background of the event.
The majority of those who were in the convention determined to organize a government but I gave them to
understand that this could not be done on account of the absence of the representatives of other districts, aside from an
agreement having already been made at the convention at Imus, that all this annulled the Majority, because in view of the
present critical situation of these pueblos there was n0 time to wait for the representatives from other places, and the Imus
Convention lacked validity on account of the alleged absence of the minutes. Nevertheless, I assured those present there
that in case the manifest will of the people governed in the election of officer, 1 would respect it. Moreover, before the
election began, I discovered the underhand work of some of the Imus crowd who had quietly spread the statement that it
was not advisable that they be governed by men from other pueblos, and that they should for this reason strive to elect
Captain Emilio as President. As soon as I heard of this, I said that this meeting was a dirty work, because this was what
they were after and they were deceiving the people, adding that if they wished me to point Out, one by one, those who
were conducting themselves in this matter I would do so. The majority said that this was no longer necessary. I also said
that if the manifest will of the people was not compiled with, 1 would not recognize the chiefs elected, and if I did not
recognize them they would not recognized by our people there, ether Don Artemio Ricarte the General elect, also said at
the meeting that this election was due to bad practices. ** * ******